The pigeons will take off one last time over Cordova this summer, bringing a close to a 50-year tradition rooted in family, community and a little small-town charm.
The 50th Annual Great Cordova Pigeon Race will be Sunday, July 27. This marks the final year of the celebration, which began in 1975 as a quirky idea by longtime Cordova resident Darrol Larsen.
Larsen, a member of the Cordova Community Club, first launched pigeons from a parade float during the village’s bicentennial celebration. His son, Lance Larsen, was seven years old at the time.
“My dad said anybody can get a flight of fighter jets to open a parade, but I’m going to get a flock of pigeons,” said Lance Larsen, event coordinator. “He let them loose off a float and that started this whole idea.”
What followed was a decades-long celebration that evolved from a potluck dinner and pigeon release into one of Cordova’s most beloved events. Over the years it has featured softball tournaments, high school bands, fire department water fights and parades.
The car show, now in its 14th year, became a staple and crowd-puller for the event’s later years.
“This has always been his party in my head,” Larsen said of his father. “It’s been a family thing. My mom, siblings, wife, kids, cousins – everyone contributes.”
Eight years ago, Larsen and fellow community members committed to seeing the event through to its 50th year. Now, that milestone has arrived.
“We’ve had our run, and I think 50 is a fantastic number,” Larsen said. “Not many things last that long. It’s time for fresh ideas and new people to lead something of their own.”
While the car show may continue independently in the future, no formal plans are in place to replace the pigeon race. Larsen said it would take several volunteers or couples to carry the torch and keep the tradition alive.
“If somebody would pick it up, I’d love to go and enjoy it,” he said. “But I haven’t had anybody volunteer so far.”
This year’s lineup features food and drink vendors, including Sweet B’s Lemonade from Dorchester and A1 Southern Cooking of Utica. The event also adds a cornhole tournament to its Sunday schedule.
“I’m excited about not having to work the kitchen this year,” Larsen said. “Our volunteers can enjoy a meal and visit with their neighbors.”
As for the birds, the final flock count remains uncertain.
“Some years we’ve had a dozen, some years we’ve had hundreds,” Larsen said. “I’m hoping for a great big flock.”
Proceeds from the event support the Cordova Community Club. Registration for the car show runs from 8 a.m. to noon, with trophies awarded at 3 p.m.
The pigeons fly at 1:15 p.m. - when a release lever is thrown on the haul trailer. Do not be late because the pigeons will flood out in a panic, do a loop around the town to get their bearings, and make a beeline for home. And then the last lap of the race that lasted 50 years and brought community members together will be over.
“I hope people take away that it’s possible to just take a Sunday afternoon and enjoy your neighbors,” Larsen said.
